North Carolina Arboretum increases daily parking fee

Press Release

From The North Carolina Arboretum

ASHEVILLE, NC – The North Carolina Arboretum, a premier public garden and center for education and research, will increase its daily parking fee to $12 per personal vehicle, effective January 2, 2014. Fees for 15-passenger vans and buses/motorcoaches will increase to $50 and $100, respectively. The Arboretum will offer half price parking for personal vehicles ($6) the first Tuesday of each month.

As with many other agencies and educational entities, substantial reductions in state resources have significantly impacted the Arboretum’s operations and financial planning. The organization has lost more than $1.3 million in state funding over recent years. To counteract such consequential reductions and the resulting reductions in staffing, the Arboretum’s Board of Directors has incorporated into its strategic plan increased generation of revenue beyond state funding to sustain the Arboretum as a viable education and economic resource to our region.

Despite the loss in state funding, attendance at the Arboretum has increased 34.6% since 2010. Ranked eighth in the Top 30 Museums and Historic Attractions in North Carolina last year, more than 494,000 visitors experienced the Arboretum’s gardens, trails, educational programs and exhibits, shows and expos, demonstrations and lectures. As a regional tourism attraction with a growing audience, the Arboretum’s ability to meet its mission and enrich the visitor experience is made possible by a community of supporters.

For information, visit www.ncarboretum.org or call (828) 665-2492. The central mission of The North Carolina Arboretum, an affiliate institution of the 17-campus University of North Carolina system, is to cultivate connections between people and plants.